CONTRIBUTORS Mary Chris Murry
Paul Arthur
Barbara Britt
Colleen Riddle
Mary Chris Murry is a marketing consultant with over 30 years of experience in communications and marketing. Formerly the executive vice president and managing partner of one of the largest, independent, and integrated marketing agencies in Atlanta, Mary Chris has experience in all realms of communications – from strategic planning, development, implementation, execution, and analysis of marketing campaigns across traditional and digital platforms.
Paul Arthur has been with the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center since 2010 and has enjoyed watching the growth and continued community reach the Center has accomplished over the years. The addition of Camp Longleaf enables the Biophilia Center's mission to include programs not only throughout the school year, but during the summer as well. Paul loves working with students, nature, animals, and the best Biofamily anyone could ask for.
Barbara Britt is a dedicated member of her community in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and has a passion for making a difference in the lives of others. She developed the largest leadership program in the country for high school students and devoted 16 years to working directly with the program’s participants. She is now using her expertise in the corporate world.
Colleen Riddle grew up as a competitive swimmer and learned early on how good it felt to set goals, work hard and win. She reached her ultimate swimming goal when she earned a scholarship to Florida State University.
Born and raised in Walton County, Mary Chris moved back to the area in 2016 after a 26-year career in Atlanta to live closer to her family and near the beach, and provide her clients with the right marketing expertise based on their goals. Mary Chris lives in Santa Rosa Beach with her rescue pup, Phyllis.
Laura Lucy
Cheree Pace Calhoun Cheree Pace Calhoun is a Gulf Coast native. She has a Master’s degree in counseling and is a certified Trust Based Relational Intervention practitioner for children from hard places. Cheree is the director of an adoption program for a non-profit agency. Cheree loves spending time with her husband, teen son and tween daughter, and enjoys singing, reading, writing, and antiquing. Cheree has an affinity for southern cooking, roller coasters, and all things Dachshund.
Laura Lucy works remotely as the grants and marketing manager for Harbor House of Central Florida, owns Beachside Certifications, a CPR and first aid training company, and volunteers at her daughter’s school, her church, and anywhere else that will have her. When she's not working, you can find Laura and her husband Patrick trying to wrangle their crazy redhead, Vivi, who also happens to be the reigning Little Miss Okaloosa County.
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As a member of John C. Maxwell’s international speaking, training and coaching team, she conducts leadership, personal and professional development training for a variety of organizations. Barbara is also a certified trainer with Robert Rohm Personality Insights. She has recently developed a Speakers Club that can be utilized in companies from top management to the entire team. In addition to working with individual and corporate clients, Barbara facilitates training through the Northwest Florida State College Costa Leadership Institute. She has developed Empowerment programs to enable women and men to achieve their best selves using Mastermind groups, as well as lunch and learn workshops.
Denise Gates Denise Gates has a BA in Journalism and is a freelance writer and editor. She has spent the last 25+ years traveling with her military husband and raising two boys. Twice they lived in Destin and now that her husband has retired and with both boys at Florida colleges, they are back for good.
As owner of Elite Physique Personal Training, she brings her passion for fitness and clean-living to every person she works with. Whether it is losing weight, designing an overall healthy lifestyle, or creating a less toxic environment, she thrives on helping her clients achieve results. Her DVD Series, New Mommy Makeover was showcased in Fit Pregnancy magazine and was voted the number one Post Natal DVD series. Colleen has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, and was featured in INC Magazine as a top fitness entrepreneur. She loves the freedom as well as the challenges (keeps her on her toes!) that come along with the journey! Colleen’s passion is empowering others to see their greatness and create the lifestyle they’ve always wanted. Colleen has been married to her best friend, John, for over 22 years. They have three adorable and hilarious cats named Starsky and Hutch, and the new edition, a kitten they named Huggy Bear (a true “Foster Fail”). For fun they enjoy biking, kayaking , Pickle Ball, and pretty much anything outside in the gorgeous place they call home!
